Label-free quantitative proteomic profiling of colon cancer cells identifies acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha as antitumor target of Citrus limon-derived nanovesicles

We have previously isolated exosome-like nanoparticles from Citrus-limon juice, able to inhibit in vitro and in vivo tumor cell growth. In order to deeply understand the mechanism underlying nanovesicle effects, we performed a proteomic profile of treated colorectal cancer cells. Among the proteins differentially expressed after nanovesicle treatment, we found a significant downregulation of the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 1 (ACACA) and we demonstrated that silencing ACACA in cancer cells leads to a reduction of cell growth. Our study proved that the anti-tumor effects of Citrus-limon nanovesicles is partly mediated by lipid metabolism inhibition, in particular via ACACA downregulation. This study represents the attempt to achieve, by a proteomic approach, a better understanding of the role of lemon nanovesicles in affecting colorectal cancer cell growth.